Workplace Culture Confusion Brings Challenges, Opportunities

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The workplace of two, three decades ago may have been filled with negatives like a blatant lack of diversity, sexual harassment that often went unreported and unpunished, and restrictive articles of clothing like pantyhose, pumps and neck ties. But at least the expectations were clear when it came to where we worked, when we worked and how we were supposed to feel about work. With remote work basically nonexistent, we commuted into the office every day to work during traditional business hours, knowing we would leave our professional lives at the door every Friday afternoon and not be barraged by after-hours calls or emails. And during that time spent in the office, exhibiting ambition and a drive to get ahead was admirable, due to a consensus that hard workers earned promotions and slackers could get the boot.

The workplace culture of today, however, is suspended in a confusing, fuzzy gray area. The pandemic led to the normalization of remote work and the opportunity to reflect on whether “hustle culture” was a healthy path to follow or if greater prioritization should be given to things like downtime with family and friends, hobbies, self-care and travel. The Great Resignation gave workers and job seekers more leverage than they’d ever had before, forcing some employers to give in to their demands for remote work options and flexible schedules in order to attract and retain talent.